Bowling ball stop mechanism



y 1962 H. A. JONES ETAL BOWLING BALL STOP MECHANISM Filed June 30, 1958 c T R m Y E M 3 mama R VDJ m MMD T E 6A MP 6 Y 2 B 2 M w M 3 Z Z 2 3 W .IS a 3 I w G 2 I F United States Patent ()1 3,042,403 BGWLING BALL STOP MECHANISM Harold A. Jones, Shelby, tibia, and Fred J. Schmidt, Stamford, (lonm, assignors to American Machine 8: Foundry (Iompany, a corporation of New Jersey Filed June 39, I958, Ser. No. 745,452 7 Claims. (ill. 2734'7) This invention relates to bowling apparatus, and more particularly to improvements in bowling ball stops or bowling ball retarding devices operative to reduce the momentum of bowling balls rolling along a bowling ball return of a bowling alley en route to a position of rest at the players location at the approach end of the alley.

The invenion relates particularly to a bowling ball check or retarding device wherein the exit velocity of a bowling ball is independent of its weight. This constitutes an important advance in the art because in all convenional types of ball checks known to applicants and now on the market, exit velocity increases with the weight of the ball.

As used herein, exit velocity means the velocity of a ball at the time it is delivered by or from the ball stop or retarding device onto the infeed track portion of a bowling ball return, or the velocity of a ball at the time it is delivred by or from the ball check or retarding device directly into the ball storage rack at the end of the bowling ball return.

In bowling alley installations with known types of ball checks or bowling ball retarding devices, the kinetic energy of rotation and translation stored in a freely rolling ball is partially dissipated against gravity forces in completely elevating the ball to clear the uppermost point on the riser or upsweep section of the bowling ball return runway en route to the storage rack. It will be evident that with devices of these types, there are occasions when a ball does not have sufiicient momentum to insure that it will be delivered along the riser or upsweep section into storage because of insufiicient kinetic energy being stored in the ball to insure such transit of the upsweep section. In bowling alleys provided with bowling ball return runways which are located beneath the alleys or separating members between two adjacent alleys, failure of a ball to roll up and oil? the upsweep section causes a serious problem, since if the ball rolls downwardly and comes to rest beneath the 'alley or the separating members between two adjacent alleys, considerable time must be used in removing boards and reaching down in order to lift the ball manually and carry it back to the storage rack.

The present invention completely eliminates the problem above mentioned because due to the positively operated ball engaging and rolling member which forms a part of the invention, each ball rolling along the upsweep section is positively and firmly, yet resiliently gripped by the moving surface of a traveling member and propelled thereby upwardly to the point of discharge from the riser or upsweep section. Thus at no time can a ball roll downwardly once it has reached a point where it is engaged by the traveling ball propelling member. A ball stop mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention does not require any resetting in order to ready it for use, and therefore eliminates the chance of collision of a first delivered ball by a succeeding ball.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel ball check or ball retarding device for use with a bowling alley ball return and a novel method of checking the movement of balls wherein each ball is resiliently, yet firmly gripped, by a rotating ball engaging and displacing member, and delivered slowly to a position of rest, such as a storage rack.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel ball return check or stop having a slowly moving endless traveling member provided with a resilient peripheral surface located substantially at the joint joinder of the upsweep section and the infeed section of a bowling ball return runway, and wherein the traveling member co-operates with a spaced guiding and holding device to deliver a ball to the storage rack of the bowling ball return runway in a greatly improved manner regardless of the weight of bowling balls handled thereby.

The invention is further characterized by a bowling ball return check or retarding device comprising a slowly moving member such as a wheel having a tire formed from an elastomer operative to engage bowling balls as they roll along the upsweep sec-tion of a bowling ball return runway, and wherein each ball engaged by the tire has its velocity reduced to substantially that of the tire and is rolled along the upsweep section to a point of delivery onto a yieldingly pivotally mounted support from which it rolls slowly onto the infeed track section of the ball return runway to a position of rest.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel ball stop or retarding device which because of its construction and operation is free from any parts or operating elements in the path of travel of or engageable by a ball which could damage it as by scratching or chipping, as it moved to a position of rest.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel ball stop or retarding device which because of its construction is compact, easy to install and service, and does not interfere with the movements of bowlers or constitute a hazard to them when playing the game.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a mechanism that is continuous in operation rather than one which must be re-set, automatically or otherwise to make ready for the succeeding bowling ball.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain combinations and constructions which will be hereinafter fully described, and then set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which like characters of refer ence indicate the same or like parts:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional side elevation of a preferred form of a bowling ball check and retarding device embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a partial end elevation taken of FIGURE 1.

The bowling ball stop mechanism or retarding device made in accordance with the invention can be used on any type of bowling alley ball return as long as it can be mounted such that the ball engaging surface of a slowly moving ball engaging and speed checking and propelling member is located in the path of travel of balls rolling towards the ball delivery or infeed section or into the storage rack portion of the ball return runway on which it is installed. Because of the problems referred to hereinabove, it will be evident that the bowling ball stop mechanism of the present invention is especially well adapted for use with bowling alley ball return runways wherein the latter extend from a point adjacent the pit of a bowling alley or between the pits of two adjacent bowling alleys beneath and parallel with the bowling alleys or beneath the separators between adjacent bowling alleys to the head ends of such alleys. Such ball returns, therefore, are invisible and balls rolling therealong cannot be seen until they emerge from the upsweep section thereof adjacent the approach or head ends of the alleys served by the return as they roll to a position of rest or into a storage rack.

In the preferred form of the invention disclosed in the drawings, the ball stop mechanism or retarding device on line 3--3 'maximum diameter of a bowling ball.

9 e9 is designated generally 2141. Mechanism 210 is used in conjunction with a ball return and runway track 214 having an integral upsweep section 216 which at its top end is connected to spaced guide tracks 224, slightly 1r: clined downwardly to the right, as viewed 1n FIGURE 1, in order to provide for a slow rolling movement of balls into a storage rack (not shown). Track 214 and upsweep section 216 preferably are comprised of two spaced rods mounted on supports 215 fixed to the approach end of the alley and the crossbar 219 having 1ts ends attached to side frames 223. The ball return track disclosed is located above the alley, although, if des red, it could be located therebeneath. Spaced track portions 224 are supported on crossbars 225, the ends of which are attached to the inner faces of side frames 223 Supported between the bars which form upsweep track section 216, and intermediate its point of curvature with return track 214 and the ends attached to tracks 224 is an arcuate ball track and snubbing and camming member 218 having a rearwardly curved projecting head portion 222. The functions of these parts will be described n more detail hereinafter. One end of member 218 is pivotally mounted on pins 244, suitably supported in the bars which form curved upsweep track section 216. See FIGURE 3. The lower end of member 218 is provided with an extension 246 to which is attached one end of a spring 248, the other end of which is attached to a bracket 250 fixed to block 226 between side frames 223. Upsweep track section 216 is spaced from a moving ball speed checking and handling member 228, such as a rotating wheel, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. Spring 24 8 normally maintains snubbing and camming member 218 spaced from member 228 a distance less than the Tracks 217 comprising upsweep track section 216 are substantially concentric with the periphery of the resilient surface of tire 236 mounted on member 228 fixed to shaft 242. Tracks 217 are spaced from surface 236 a distance less than the maximum diameter of a bowling ball so as to insure a firm, yet resilient and frictional engagement between tracks 217 and surface 236 which is somewhat compressed, as shown in FIGURE 1, when a ball is in engagement with surface 236, The ends of shaft 242 are suitably journalled in bearings mounted on side frames 223. The point at which the upper ends of rails 217 are joined to tracks 224 preferably is slightly above the center line of rotating member 228.

Shaft 242 is driven by a driving unit designated generally D including a conventional motor and speed reduction unit, which may be similar in construction and operation to that disclosed in copending application, Serial No. 742,908 filed June 18, 1958. It is considered, therefore, unnecessary to describe drive unit D more in detail. Member 228 is driven at a very much slower rate of speed than that of a ball rolling along track 214 and onto upsweep section 216 where it is engaged by surface 236 and wedged thereby against tracks 217, because of the spacing of surface 236 and tracks 217 described hereinabove. Member 228 preferably is driven continuously thereby making it ready for succeeding balls without requiring resetting for use.

In operation, a ball 5 rolling along runway track 214 at the position designated I, has a momentum and velocity resulting from the force at which it was propelled mechanically or pushed manually along the return track from a point adjacent the pit of the alley (not shown). When ball 5 reaches the position designated II, it will be engaged by resilient surface 236 of member 228, and also will be pressed thereby against resiliently mounted arcuate guide 218 and held frictionally against rails 217. The effect of this action is to reduce the velocity of the ball markedly, or to a velocity substantially equal to that of surface 236 of member 228. In the continued movement of surface 236, as it rolls ball 5 upwardly along rails 217, arcuate member 218 is pressed rearwardly against the action of spring 248 into the broken line position shown in FIGURE 1. During this movement, ball 5 is held frictionally and yet resiliently by surface 236 against rails 217.

As ball 5 rolled by surface 236 along upsweep track 216 reaches the upper ends of rails or tracks 217 at approximately the point designated P, arcuate guide 218 moves forwardly or to the left due to force exerted by spring 248 as viewed in FIGURE 1, such that cam nose 221 thereon moves beneath and further raises ball 5 and the latter comes to rest momentarily on rearwardly curved projecting head portion 222 at the top of arcuate guide 218, or to full line position shown in FIGURE 1. From this position, due to slope of surface 252 of nose 221 ball 5 rolls down curved downwardly inclined head portion 222, and along downwardly inclined tracks 224 to a position of rest such as a storage rack (not shown).

It will be seen that we have provided a simple and extremely effective ball top mechanism or retarding device which is capable of handling balls of all Weights and insuring that they will be delivered into a ball storage rack with a minimum exit velocity in a markedly improved manner and with a minimum of damage to a ball handled thereby.

What we claim is:

l. Mechanism for checking the rolling movement of a bowling ball along a bowling ball return of a bowling alley, said return having an infeed track section, storage rack and an upsweep track section for delivering bowling balls into said storage rack, comprising a rotatably mounted wheel having a resilient peripheral ball-engaging surface located in the path of travel of a ball en route along said infeed track section, means rotatably supporting said wheel a distance less than the maximum diameter of a bowling ball from said track for positively engaging said ball rolling along said track, means for rotating said wheel at a relatively low rate of speed in comparison to the rotation of said ball en route along said track, said upsweep track section of said return comprising arcuate rails substantially concentric with and spaced from said ball-engaging surface of said wheel, an arcuate snubbing member, the degree of curvature of said snubbing member being substantially the same as that of said rails of said upsweep section, means pivotally mounting said snubbing member for movement between the rails of said upsweep section, means normally biasing said snubbing member towards said wheel into frictional engagement with a ball being moved along said upsweep section at a slow rate of speed by said Wheel and means maintaining said snubber in resilient engagement with said ball until said ball is moved clear of said upsweep section by said wheel for delivery to said storage rack.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said snubbing member is provided with a cam nose adjacent it's uppermost portion for supporting said ball after said ball moves out of engagement with said wheel, said nose being operative to urge said released ball toward said storage rack.

3. Mechanism for checking the rolling movement of a bowling ball along a bowling ball return of a bowling alley, said return having an infeed track section, storage rack, and an upsweep track section for delivering bowling balls into said storage rack, said track sections comprising spaced rails and said return comprising means mounting said rails to extend from a 'ball receiving position adjacent the pit of the alley to a ball rest position adjacent the approach end thereof, the combination of a ball-engaging member located in the path of travel of a ball en rounte along said infeed track section, means rotatably mounting said member at a distance from said track which is less than the maximum diameter of a bowling ball for positively engaging said ball rolling along said track, means for rotating said member at a rate of speed substantially less than that of a bowling ball engaged thereby, a snubber, means pivotally mounting said snubber between the rails of said upsweep track section, and means normally biasing said snubber into the path of movement of a bowling ball along said upsweep track section for exerting a frictional force on the ball when the same is located between said ball-engaging member and said upsweep track section for reducing the kinetic energy and speed of the ball as it is travelled by said ball-engaging member and delivered at a slow rate of speed onto said storage rack.

4. In a bowling alley installation, the combination of a return runway extending from a ball receiving position adjacent the pit of the alley, said return runway including an upwardly curving upsweep section disposed adjacent the approach end of the alley, said upsweep section comprising transversely spaced rails; guide track means for guiding balls from said upsweep section to a storage device, said guide traok means comprising transversely spaced rails disposed above the alley bed and extending longitudinally of the alley from the upper end of said upsweep section; a movable ball-controlling device mounted above said upsweep section and presenting a travelling ball-engaging surface spaced from the rails of said upsweep section by a distance sufiiciently less than the maximum diameter of a bowling ball that a bowling ball rolling along said upsweep section is positively engaged between the rails of said upsweep section and said ball-engaging surface; power means connected to said device to drive the same at a rate and in a direction such that, when a ball is engaged between the rails of said upsweep section and said ball-engaging surface, the latter will roll the ball upwardly along said upsweep section at a predetermined slow rate of speed; a snubbing member disposed between the rails of said upsweep section and mounted for pivotal movement about an axis which extends transversely of said upsweep at a point substantially below said ball-controlling device, said snubbing device having a ball-engaging surface which extends from the location of the pivotal axis of said snubbing member toward the upper end of said upsweep section; and biasing means connected to said snubbing member and operative to resiliently bias the same toward said ball-engaging surface of said ball-controlling member and thus into engagement with a bowling ball when the ball is being rolled along said upsweep section by said ball-controlling surface.

S. A bowling alley installation in accordance with claim 4 and wherein said ball-controlling device is a wheel having a resilient periphery, and the upper end of said upsweep section is located slightly above the axis of rotation of said wheel.

6. A bowling alley installation in accordance with claim 4 and wherein said snubbing member extends from its pivotal axis to the upper end of said upsweep section and is there provided with a downwardly slanting end surface joined to said ball-engaging surface of said snubbing member by a rounded nose, pivotal movement of said snubbing member by said biasing means causing said snubbing member to assume a position in which said downwardly slanting surface is engaged beneath the ball when a bowling ball is rolled beyond said nose by said ball-controlling member.

7. A bowling alley installation in accordance with claim 6 and wherein said ball-engaging surface of said snubbing member has at least generally the same curvature as said upsweep section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 832,250 Frish Oct. 2, 1906 1,160,018 Vearing Nov. 9, 1915 2,207,643 Strong July 9, 1940 2,491,349 Wilson a- Dec. 13, 1949 2,566,379 Strong Sept. 4, 1951 2,796,261 Turner June 18, 1957 

